The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has commenced the verification of disputed and newly drilled crude oil and gas fields in the Niger Delta, with the aim of resolving ownership claims and ensuring equitable distribution of revenue among oil-producing states.
Speaking in Asaba, Delta State, on Monday, the Commission’s Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, said the exercise followed numerous petitions from state governments over boundary and ownership disputes.
He explained that an Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) had been inaugurated to carry out the assignment. The committee comprises representatives from the RMAFC, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, and the National Boundary Commission.
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Fairness and transparency
According to Shehu, the verification team has already inspected the Aneize oil field in Okpai, Delta State, and will also review the Eyine and Ameshi fields within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 143. The inspection will cover wells drilled between 2017 and the present.
He noted that the initiative is backed by paragraph 32(a), Part I of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates the RMAFC to monitor accruals into and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account.
“The goal is to ensure fairness and transparency in oil revenue allocation by accurately determining the coordinates of crude oil and gas assets. This will guarantee that the 13 per cent derivation fund is paid to the rightful beneficiary states,” Shehu said.
He added that the exercise would be extended to Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo, and Anambra states, where similar ownership petitions have been lodged.
Shehu stressed that the verification process relies on geospatial data provided by the NUPRC, which will be validated in the presence of state surveyor-generals to enhance transparency. He further explained that the exercise is a strategic and proactive step to resolve long-standing disputes, reduce inter-state tensions, and safeguard the integrity of the Federation Account.
“By promoting transparency and fairness, this initiative lays the groundwork for a more stable and conducive environment for exploration and development in the Niger Delta,” Shehu said.
